The National Republican Congressional Committee has elevated 11 more candidates to "Young Gun" status, moving these prospects to the top tier of of their benchmark program for campaigns in 2014.

“Candidates that reach ‘Young Gun’ status have met a series of rigorous goals that will put them in position to win on Election Day,” NRCC Chairman Greg Walden said in a Tuesday statement. "Our job as a committee is to help elect Republicans to office that will serve as a check and balance on the Obama administration." All of the following, newly-minted Young Gun candidates have recently won their primaries . The NRCC does not publicly pick sides in primaries.

West Virginia's 2nd District: Former Maryland GOP Chairman Alex Mooney, who will face former West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey in this open-seat contest in November. (Rating: Leans Republican )

These 11 candidates join 10 others who earned the same top distinction in May. Some of those GOP recruits include Retired Air Force Colonel Martha McSally, who is running in Arizona's 2nd District, former Rep. Bob Dold, who is running in Illinois' 10th District, and state Sen. Torrey Westrom, who is running in Minnesota's 7th District, among others.

Last week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced nine more of their candidates had joined a similar program , Red to Blue, for the party's top candidates in open and GOP-held seats.